Gear transmission



April 1945- w. F. ZIMMERM'ANN GEAR TRANSMISSION Original Filed Sept. 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ulumil-IQ SIRRE II l .r *N

l NVE N'I'O R W {MM rrronuev P 1945- w. F. ZIMMERMABIIN 2,374,256

GEAR TRANSMISS ION Original Filed Sept. 12, 1941 4 'Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY INVENTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 zv -iliL hm 37 E \w v w h. R 5 3 P N QE ATTORNEY no mm. Juh

mvcuroa ,W K m a NLHTQ Q8 April 24, 1945. w. F. 'ZIMMERMANN GEAR TRANSMISSION Original Filed. Sept. 12, 1341 Aprfl 24, 1945.

W. F. ZIMMERMANN GEAR TRANSMISSION Original Filed Sept. 12; 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v wv. mm NE 26;

INVEI TI'OR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1945 GEAR TRANSMISSION William F. Zimmermann, Maplewood, N J'., as-

Signor to Gould & Eberhardt, Incorporated, Irvington, N. J a corporation of'New Jersey Original application September 12, 1941,,Sei ial No. 410,512. Divided and-,thisapplication-Ju 13, 1943, Serial No. 494,469

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to I improvements in;power-transmission systems suitable for machinetool/ usages and is concerned more particularly with transmission systems whereinthe movements ofthe elements, ultimately propelled are to be synchronizedas well as directionally coordinated and related to efieot a given operation or sequence of operations. I

This application is a division of my; copencling earlier application Serial No; 410,512, filed Sept. 12,1941, and. likethe-parent case, a worm gear hobbing machine w-illbe taken as illustrative of atypical use and preferred embodiment ofthe instant invention.

A-vprimary aim of the inventionis to render available a simplified transmission wherewith. it becomes possible to obtain and maintain a predetermined operating relation between,= for example, the tool and the work, notwithstanding that the-machine may be set up for toolingwork ofv one type at one time and of another and-opposite type at. another time. The invention aims to. develop a transmissionswhereby it becomes feasible-and practical; to use but onemachine for the selective cutting, for example, of right hand wormgears and left hand Worm gears, and obtaining. and preserving in each opposite set-.up, like-relations of, the hob-with the blank irrespective of the hand of the gear being. cutand its direction of rotation.

A further, aim, of this invention is to. render available a transmission system embodying two orwmore power drives adapted for selective operation to efiect relative movement between the machine'tool elements in transverse paths and inopposite directions in those transverse paths, but so constituted and arranged that thedirection f;-operation of one of the drives is dependent upon thedirection ofv operation of the other and automatically rationalized therewith.

By way of illustration, ina worm gear cutting machine, the work blank may revolve counterclockwise andxthe hob slowly fed tangentially from; left to right, and the back traverse of the hob isfrom right to left. When the machine is set upfor cutting gears of theopposite hand, the work rotates oppositely, the hob is fed oppositely, and ,the back traverse is opposite. The tangential movement of ,the hob alongv the blank makes it necessary to impose on either the blank or the going results maybe ,readily achieved and maintained: for bothl-feedandtraverse movements.

When=,-;however, the gears-are=being,cut by the infeeding method the direction .of infeed. and. of the out traverse of the cutter. does not change with a,.change inhand of thegear being cut and there is no .needpfor any supplemental motion of thehob relativeto the blank. When one combines the fnfeed-method of. cutting ,with the tangentialefeed method of cutting, a conditionis presented potentially confusing because undera given. set-up forward and reverse motions of, variousgeartrains andresultingmotions are compatible, but under another they are not. The present ;invention,. accordingly, further aims to render available an improved transmission system-. that,e1iminates,the possibility ofconfusion by. anarrangement of. gearingandrother elements ofv the transmissions such that harmonious movements and: harmonious reverse reversals. are ob.- tained; as. and in accordance with, thedirection the ,machine-isoperated,i. e., the hand-.of the gearbeing ,cut and the method: employed in the cutting thereof. The. invention: further aims to provide a. re

versible drive transmission: for aplurality of elements inwhich, a. supplemental, movement is provided; the action of which isconsistently ad ditive or consistently subtractive upon the. trains effected,.irrespective of. the direction! inwhich one of-the. trains may be. propelled relative to the other. AsT-applieda to tangential hobbing machines the. revolutions of -the.hob. and. the rota.- tion of: the worlamustbe synchronized notwithstanding. the tangential feed movement of the hob; When,.however, thedirection of. work rotation. and the. tangential feed is changed, and not-the cutter rotation .(which must be down cutting fonboth-righthand andleft hand gears) synchronization mustagain, be obtained. By the: present-,invention audifferential mechanism is embodiedin,thefeedand. index trains ahead of theworkrtable... and. index. reversing means therein.., As back. drive from. the feed train, throu hlead change gearing, imposes asupplemental motionhon thedifierential which issubhob, a supplemental movement calculated to synchronize the relation between the teeth of the hob and the blank while simultaneously moving the one past the other. The present inventionprm poses a gearing arrangement wherebythe foretractive. on. .the. workgindex train. However, as areversal inthe work rotation also reverses the feed, and the-feed controls the differential action, the resultingeffect on the work index drive is additivewhena subtractive efiect is again wanted. By arranging, the several trains so "that motions therein or.. in,.selected portions. thereof may be reversed, notwithstanding reversals producedin other trains,.,a ore-existing relation of motions prior to or subsequent to, the actual tooling operation does not effect the precision timing that exists between the cutter and work.

As above mentioned, the differential action is not required, nor is a tangential feed train required, when using the mechanisms for the cut.

ting of gears by the infeed method, and such elements and trains are, in accordance with this invention conveniently disconnected and, locked out without impairing or effecting the utility of other trains or trains of mechanisms common to both types of operations. V

The problem, therefore, in a machine adapted to out both left hand and right hand gears with a hob that has a portion designed for rough cutting using a centifeed motion, ,(meanin'gaflfeed movement toward the center, i. e., radially of the blank) and another portion designedfor finish cutting using a tanfeed motion, (meaning a feed movement tangentially of the work blank) is to be able to shiftfrom centifeed to tanfeed, With-'- out losing lead, and in a single operation, ,and in so doing automatically obtain, a differential in the work index rates, when tanfeedingfopera tive in a directioncompatible with afeed against work rotation, regardless of the hand of the gear being out. And in the same machine provide means to preserve, or to renderit possible to maintain, the centifeed transmission operative in an infeeding direction and the hob downward cutting, for each hand of gear to 'be"cut..

In the present embodiment of the invention a main drive motor, acting through speed, change gearing, drives the cutter spindle in one direction only. Poweris taken off the cutter. drive train and rotates the work blank after' passing through, in the order named, a differential mechanism, and a speed change and reverse table index gearing. The feed drive is'taken oil the work index drive at the table side of the speed change and reversing mechanisms therein, and

after passing through a set of feed change gears,

differential does not change direction, whereas the main feed and sub-feed trains: and work trains do, and since one of the feed trains con,- trols the differential action, a relation restoring device is incorporated in,,the' back drive to. the differential to render its action consistent with the results desired notwithstandingreversals in motion effected beyond the differential.

Likewise, in the infeed branch train a relation restoring means is embodied to restore directions of motion therein in compatibility with in and out cutter feeds notwithstanding reversals in the index and main feed works from which both branch feed trains derive their feed power.

A selector clutch is provided at the juncture of the two branch feed trains with the main feed train and a shifting of that clutch from one effective position to another changes the cutter feed motion from an in or out feed (without differential action) to a tangential (with differential action), or conversely.

Between the selector clutch and the main feed change speed gearing another clutch is provided to disconnect the main feed power from both of the branch feed trains. On the power outgoing side of the main power clutch, the rapid traverse powerv source (reversible) is connected in. Accordingly, with the main feed clutch disengaged, the rapid traverse source may be employed to propel the cutter carriage in or out or to the left or right through the respective branch feed trains. 'Ifthe selector clutch is positioned to transmit through the infeed branch, the direction of motion of the rapid traverse source must be properly related to the position'of the motion restorer in that branch feed train. If the selector clutch is positioned to transmit through the tangential feed train, the direction of motion of the rapid traverse source must be consistent with producing a traverse movement to the right or to the left, as the case may be. And inasmuch as the tangential feed branch conveys power back to the differential casing, the use of the rapid traverse source to quickly 'move the cutter to the left or to the right, also operates through the lead gearing and the differential to drive the work table index train, the hob is able to clear the work while moving tangentially at a relatively rapid rate. V i v y a In reversing the work andfeed movements the work carrier drive train and all trains dependent thereon are reversed. However, and irrespective of the direction of table rotation, the relation restoring means, provided preferably in the lead change gearing, maintains the cutter synchronized with the work by imposing a supplemental movement upon the work carrier always in the right direction with respect to the direction" of lateral or tangential feed. The instrumentalities provided render it possible to preserve in one machine the individual characteristics and entities of several. The alteration in the back drive to the differential mechanism is made, as with the alteration made in the index gearing, only when changing over the machine from right hand operations to left hand operations, or conversely, and, after the transmission is set up for one direction of operation, the change from centifeed to tanfeed is effected by operating a single lever. Idle or other time consuming op= erations in correlating directions are thereby avoided.

While the present invention is depicted in connection with a machine wherein the centifeed and tanfeed movements are movements imparted to the cutter, it is to be understood that other uses are contemplated and that one or both movements may be imparted to the work carrier or apportioned, as may be desired, between the work and the tool.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the" underlyingfeatures hereof that they may" embody" tl"1e--sa-rne-inthe 'various ways contemplated by "this invention; drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as apart of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts throughout all the viewsyof which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a worm'gear cutting machine embodyingthe present invention.

Figs. Zand 3 are front andrear end views of the machine illustrated in-Figure l. i

Fig, 4 is a line diagram of the power transmission mechanisms and their controls as applied to a gear hobbing machine.

Fig. 5 is a detail illustration of-a portion of the drive to the hobbing cutter of the machine illustrated in Fig.1; including the speed change gearing.

Fig. 6 is a detail illustration of a portion of the drive to the work spindle index shaftyincluding the differential mechanism and index change speed gearing. I

Fig. 7 is, a detail illustration of the feed works drive including the built-in change feed gearing.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the lead change gearing; and Fig. 9, the power connection from the tangential feed train (the radial feed train).

Fig. 10 is a detail figure illustrating the means in the centripetal feed train for maintainin the power feed toward the work axis in both directions of work rotation. v

Fig. 11' is a detail of a lubricating pump drive.

Fig. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the machine and the interlocking thereof with mechanical controls.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, the. invention is shown embodied in a machine having a. substantial base member-20-,'

which supports a rotatable work carrier 2| and a relatively translatable tool carrier 22: The work carrier is mountedto rotate on a vertical axis in a tapered bearing 23 andis driven at its lower end by a worm wheel. 24, worm 25, and index shaft'M.

A. tool carrier 22, is. mounted on ways 2'! for movement. toward or away from the work table axis and carries on. the table side thereof a vertically movable. tool slide 28. On the front. face of the slide is anangularly adjustable head 29 in. which is mounted. for lateral. translation, a cutter spindle supporting carriage 30. Withrelation. to. the axisof the work spindle, the tool spindle 31 may be shifted. perpendicularly towardor away from the. work axis, parallel thereto, and laterally across theaxis in a plane normal to the work axis or at anangle thereto. vVar.- ious. combinations of movements betweenthe'tool andthe work are. utilized inthev cuttin of worm gears and .will be described more fully herein.- after.

The-toolslide 28 is adjusted verticallyon. the stanchion .22 by means of a worm and. worm wheel driven nut 28* and elevating. screw. 28. The-screw 28 is secured to the slide 28 and shifts axially through the nut 28 as. the latter is rotated. A hand'crankplaced on the rear end of the worm shaft 28 provides the means for actuating the elevating nut. When.- the. cutter slide has been shifted to the proper position relative to the plane. of the work W, the. guide straps are tightened and slideis securely clamped in setposition.

Normally thepivotal .tool head 29. assumesa horizontal position and clamped to the slide 28.

Should angular adjustment of "the 'spindl'evaxis be necessary td adapt the machine tousingm-an: oversized hob; I the headisl unclamped from: the

slideand the adjusting :nuts 29 on a weight carrying-bolt 29 (Fig; 2)- are backed-off 'or tightened toitherebytilt'thehob axis and so correct for the difl'erence'in -lead angle due to the increased diameter of the hob.

To the rear ofthe'machinea gear case 321s attached and which houses and has journaled thereon, all theseveral trains of mechanisms necessary to propel the-hob and 'work at. their proper-relative speeds and directions during a normal tooling cycle;

A-- gear case guard-32 extends around two sides of the gear-case 32 andcontalns in'its lowermost parts an-pil'reservoir 32 Whenever the main drive is operating thepump 38 takes oil from the reservoir'and discharges itover'the gears; shafting. and moving parts within the gear case 32, and also to driptubes (not illus-- conjunction'with'Fig. 3, it will be seen that power from the main. drive motor 26 enters the ear case on .the operators side and drives shaft N through the multiple V belt 33. A pair of connecting gears 34, 35, transfers thepowertoxa continuing shaft 0 whichdrives the speed change gearing. 36 through bevel gears .31 and. shaft H; and also a lubricating pump38 throughgears 39. The speed change gearing 36 is between the shaft Hand the cutter main drive shaft J and includes. pick-off gears 48, M, 42, and '43, revolving onaxes H, I, and J The shaft J extends toward the work table and has splinedthereto a worm ,44 that meshes with. the worm gear 45 mounted upon. an. angularly adjustable shaft '45. The, worm. and worm gear and shaft, just vmentioned arejournaled in a casings-8 whichpivots on shaft J and also slides therealong. The upper splined portion of the shaft. 46 drives the bevel gears 49, worm. shaftv 5B,. worm 5i, and worm wheel 52 mounted onthe axis of. the hob spindle 3!. The hob'spindle is releasably connected to theworm wheel 52 through flanged index plates 53. so that. when using multiple thread hobs the hob. may be. precision indexed for each thread without/disturbing lead.v v

On the tool side of the. change speed gearing 36.. power. is taken. to rotate the work spindle 23. Gears 54, 55 transmit. the. power to a. shaft K which. drives a bevel gear 56' that forms part of adifierential mechanism. 51. Assuming the -cas-' mechanism to the main index shaft M that connects. with worm gear 24 underlyingthework table.

On the table side of the index. change speed and reverse. gearing 36, the tool feeding transmission takes offitspower; Starting with bevel gears. 61,,power is conducted into shaft Swhich extends across themachine and drives'a worm shaft F. are transmitted to a shaft E through either of two back gears 15, 11 and the sliding unit I8 on shaft E. Shaft E transmits the 8 speeds to a main feed shaft A through two more double-gear sliding units 19 and 80 and spaced gears BI, 82, 83', 84 fixed on shaft A; the three serially arranged change speed mechanisms affording 32 selective cutter feed speeds in shaft A.

Coaxially related with the shaft A, a second feed shaft A is mounted to receive the feed power through a main feed clutch 85 at one end and to deliver the feed power at its other end to either of two sub-feed transmissions through a dual clutch mechanism 86. When the dual clutch 8B is shifted from neutral to the left (in Fig. 4) the feed power is transmitted from shaft A to shaft A" thence through bevel gears 81, one of which is splined to shaft A", recutting clutch 88, vertical shaft 89, worm 90, worm wheel 9| (located at the pivotal axis of the head) to bevel gears 92 and 93, to the tangential feeding screw 94 journaled in the head 29. To provide for the vertical adjustment of the tool slide 28, the worm 90 is splined to the shaft 89, and is movable therealong with vertical movements of the tool slide. The upper end of the worm shaft 89 is provided with a crank receiving portion 95 by which the operator may shift the job laterally, by hand. The feed screw 94 coacts with a traveling nut 94*- secured to the laterally movable cutter spindle carriage 30.

When the dual clutch 86 is shifted to the right (in Fig. 4) a gear 96 thereon transmits power to a gear 91 on shaft B from which it may be directed selectively in reverse directions to shaft D through gears 98, and 99 or gears I00, I01, and 99. The shaft D is the centripetal feed screw shaft which is rotatably but non-translatably journaled to the main frame of the machine, and coacts with a traveling nut I02 secured to the stanchion 22 to feed the cutter or hob radially toward the work axis. is splined to the screw shaft D is shifted to an intermediate position (illustrated in Fig. 4) the screw shaft may be rotated manually by applying a crank to the upper end I03 of a shaft I04 which is geared at I05 to the shaft D.

The primary purpose of the motion restoring mechanism comprising gears 98, I00, llll and sliding gear 99 is to render it possible to power feed the cutter in (toward the work axis) irrespective of the direction of operation of the main feed works whose direction of operation is definitely related to the direction of work table movement. During the cutting ofa right hand worm gear, the work blank W is rotated counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 4) and for a left hand gear it is rotated clockwise. Opposite directions of work rotation are obtained at the index change gear mechanisms 60 by inserting or removing an idler gear (between gears 6364) and since the tool feed is taken from the index shaft M, a reversal in its motion also reverses the feed motion. Accordingly, the direction restorer 98, I90, HH, and 99 in the centifeed sub-transmission is provided to maintain the directional motion in the driven shaft D unaffected by changes in the directional motion of its driver A. In

other words, if the main feed gearing has itsdirection changed, gear arrangement 98- -10! may be utilized to restore in the feed shaft D the previously existing condition of motion.

As previously mentioned, no difllerential in 7 full tooth depth.

When the gear 99, which Correct and full tooth form on the blank is later obtained, however, by feeding the hob laterally (after infeeding to the correct center distance), for the cutting action then becomes a generating motion instead. The lateral shifting of the hob introduces a further problem of reconoiling the phase relation of the work with the hob as the latter is bodily shifted in the direction of its own axis, i. e., tangentially and against the direction of work-rotation.

When cutting a right hand gear with a tangential feed of the hob acting against or in opposition to the work rotation, the effect of tanfeeding is to accelerate beyond normal the relative tangential motion between hob and gear and the action could be likened to the action of an ordinary milling cutter on the blank. To prevent such boring action, the relation between feed and index motions must be properly correlated. With the present transmission, such correlation is attained by the differential mechanism, above referred to, which responds to either or both tangential feed and index motions.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, a branch power line is taken off the tanfeed sub-transmission through gears I86. I01, the latter of which is loose on shaft B and includes a bevel gear I98, as a unit therewith. The gear I08 drives a bevel gear I09 on a shaft P that extends across the gear case of the machine to changeable lead gearing H0. The

change lead gearing, which includes pick-off gears HI, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, and provision for insertion of an intermediate gear (between gears H3-l l4) transmits the power derived from the tanfeed train to a worm shaft Q at a rate selected by the pick-off gears used. And shaft Q, through the worm H1 and worm wheel H8 drives the casing of the differential mechanism 57. If the ratio of the lead gearing H0 is such as to cause the differential casing to revolve slowly in thesame direction as driving gear 56 therein, the speed of the output shaft K is slightly reduced. Shaft K is the driver for the work index train and a reduction in the speed thereof correspondingly reduces the rate of work rotation. Thus by installing separate lead gearing and taking power for the differential producing mechanism off the tan-feed train, the relation between the hob and the blank may be synchronized even though the one is simultaneously moving past the axis of the other.

The correlation mechanism is not needed when centifeeding (infeeding the hob) and to insure that it is inactive during centifeeding, the differential drive is taken off only the tanfeed transmission, which is independent of the centifeed transmission. When cutting gears solely by the infeed method, it is necessary to lock the differential out of action to prevent creeping, and that is done by removing lead gears H6 and applying in its place a lead locking plate 116* (Fig. 8).

shaft .Q'and carries a pin H6 that =fits :intoa socket in the gear case. When the lock is applied to the shaft, the differential-casing is :securely locked against rotation in either direction.

It has been explained above, that the tangential feed of the hob is, in-accordance with this invention, always against the work rotation so thatthe lead of the hob does not pullthe work. When setting upa machine for left to right hand operation all that-is required to be done to obtain proper work-index motion is to addor remove anidler-gear in the index change speed train' 60, and the consequential reversal in motionat that point also reverses the main feed gearing-and the tanfeed'sub-transmission. At the same time the correct lead gears III) are installed withor without an intermediate gear depending upon-the hand of the gear to be cut. The intermediate gear in. the lead train is used, according to the present'system of gearing, whenan intermediate gear isused in the index train and serves therein as a relation restorer, on reversals in feedmotion, to effect propulsion of the differential housing consistently one-Way. Thus the action-of -the difierential mechanism in correlating the relative rates of rotation of the hob and the work during tangential feeding is the same when cuttingeither right handed gears or left handed gears.

In setting up a machine for new work pieces it -is convenient to shift the hob laterally or radially by power, and so that power shifting may be effected at a relatively rapid rate a separate reversible motor I is embodied in the transmission. The motor I2Il has a belt and chain The locking 'platecomprises (a disc that fits the v whichhas splined theretoan actuating lever I28. The lever 1.28 :is: mounted l between flanges'of a bracket I29 .moimtd to the side of "the movable carrier 22. 'I'he lever I28 extendsgenerally vertically andwhen it rocked outwardly (away fromthe machine) 'thetlutch 85 engages the powerfeed.

With reference to thedual clutch 86; a' ,similar shifter 132 tracks aigroove 'in" the spool thereof and is shifted laterallyfby a shortlever "I 32 on a shaft I33. "The"sha'ft"l33'is geared at I34"to a shaft I35 which also extends'through the "traveling "bracket I29. "jA l'ever' I36 'is"'spl'ined"to"the shaft "I3 5 and travels th'erealong' as the carrier 22sliifts. .IieverfI36fihoWev'er, has three'positions, .tan'feed positiomneutral position,tand' centied' pos ition. fWhen" the lever "is lifted to its. uppermost.pdsit ion,"the clutch86 is engagedwith gear I Hi6 .andthe tanfeedtransmission is operativej-and when thelever 136 is rocked to itslowermostjppositionthe clutch engages with" gear 91 connection I2I, I22 with the intermediate feed shaft A, and when the main feed clutch 85 \is disengaged, the traverse motor may be operated to propel either of the two sub-feed transmissions and efiect the shifting motion at a rapid ratein either direction. When the power traverse is used for traversing the cutter stanchion in or out there is, of course, no change in the hase relation between the cutter and the work, those elements remain stationary. However, in trans,- versing the cutter to the left or to theright, the

work and cutter may bein mesh and one or both must rotate as the cutter is axially advanced or withdrawn. In the present system of-gearing, the phase relation between the hob and the blank is not'disturbed during the right or left traversing movement because the drive to the compensating differential mechanismis effective whenever the tanfeeding sub-transmission is in operation, I and there is a back drive therethrough which rotates either the cutter or workin timed relation as the cutter is shifted laterally to clear the work. Hence, the I phase relation of the driven elements is not disturbed. Duringhand feeding to the left or right the synchronized-relation betweenthe hoband the blank is also maintained byvirtue-'of the-same gear connections.

The-machine of the present-embodiment is with gear; 84. AA cIutchshifter 123 tracks the groove in the: spool and is shiftable laterllji-by a-.sho rtlever I24 mounted onas'haft 12.5. ii he shaft}: 25 is geared at 1 26: to: a second .shaftTITI extending along the side of the --macliine,fand

and the centifeed itrain 'is operative. Spring actuated detent means, indicated at I39 are providedfto hold 'theclutch ineach of "itspositions.

"The shifting'ofthe sliding gear 99"is effected manually by means of agear. straddling .shOe 99 v secured to anaxially "shiftable "shaft'99 the 'outerend99 of -whichi'is' .knurled to provide a suitable handgripportion.

Each of the three -serially arranged'feed change mechanismshas its own gear shift lever. "Gears 10 -11 of "theifirst seriesmay be brought selectively into mesh by lever I fl ioperating' through axially shift'ableguide rods 70 andgearstraddlmg shoes IIl arid 10 spaced thereon. Back gear "I8, formingipartof thesecond series, is straddled by ash'oe FlB 'op'erated'frOm'a balle'd lever I8 And geariuriitswand of'the third series are .arranged for axial'shifting selectively 'to'four dif- U40 ferentjpositions'byime'anspf l'ever8fl and. gear straddling shoes'j80 tand""80which are mounted and guided similar 'to the shifters of the first series.

To the foregoing machine structure there may be addedvarioustypeslofrnechanical trip mech- ,anisms and "interlocks to facilitate a; gear cutting op erati'on and for the purpose of illustration there isherein disclosed a species fof trip mechanism that is morefully described and claimed copendingappli'cations of Granger Davenport Serial :No."410;491, "filed" Sept. '12, 1941, andSerial No. 46.41711 filed'Novf (11942;

"LBriefly,"the operationof themain motor 26 is controlled by"a'-m'agnetic 'Starter MS, whereas, the rapid traverse'motor I20 is-controlled-by a reversing magnetic startenRMS. Each starter is of standard conventional c'onstruction'and includes coils I, and 2 and3, respectively, for'actuating ithejmain switches. Referring to the diagram of 'the control circuit' 'for' ithe'main drive motor 26 (Fig. 12) the push button starting switch ST isnormally open'an'd'when pressed will close a circuitacross the "coil" I" which" 'a'fiects closinglof the main switch' contacts 4' of the starting panel. Simultaneously a"hol'ding"circuit is established around thefstartingiswitch so that intermediate release of the buttorf-ST vdoes :not'stop the meter.

"The eontr'ol just explainea"is efrectiverprovidd an 'br the etnervserresmnnnected switches "shown irf'thdiagram-"are irij their .ciosed posit'iozi "'i11ushated. liifthe' circuit ahead'trthestartmg switch tnereisa doublefbcledoriblethrow switcn marked around the starting switch ST and its other and normally closed pair in series therewith, so that the pressing of the button to inch the tool carrier in or out, left or right, breaks the circuit to the starting switch as well as to the holding circuit. Thus the motor 26 will run so long as the Inch switch is held depressed- Just ahead of the inching switch the main stop switch SP is serially connected which when depressed will also break the startin switch holding circuit and the motor stops. In series ahead of the stop switch S1? there are four serially connected interlocking switches (which will later be explained) and in series ahead of those are three microswitches 'I'LF, TFR, and CF, respectively. The microswitch CF is the switch that is carried by the movable stanchion 22 and arranged to be actuated by the abutment I31 on the rod controlling the dual clutch 85. Assuming all of the series switches in this circuit areclosed and the cutter is centifeeding, the power movement continues until the switch CF is engaged by the abutment I31 and opened thereby. Immediately the circuit to the magnetic coil I of the starting switch is broken and the power feed immediately stops. The setting of the abutment I3I is, it will be understood, a precision setting so that the cutter will stop infeeding at the precise center distance required.

When the instant machine is arranged for tanfeeding the cutter, the centifeed switch CF will be closed (by the rocking of abutment I31 off the switch button which movement throws clutch 86 over to its tanfeeding side) and stop switch TFL and TFR control the stopping of the tanfeeding movement left and tanfeeding move ment right, respectively. The switches TFL and TFR are mounted in the pivotal head 29 on opposite sides of a short actuating lever I58. A rod II which passes through the laterally movable cutter slide connects with the lever I50 and has mounted for adjustment thereon two dogs I52, one at either side of the slide. By appropriately setting the dogs I52, the tangential feeding motion imparted to'the slide may be stopped at the completion of the cut in either direction of travel.

Also carried by the traveling slide is a pointer I53 which in cooperation with one or moreadjustable points I54 may beused to provide a visual indication of the zone of beginning or of finishing of the actual tooling operation. This indicating means may be used as a guide for example, to aid in hand traversing or power traversing to selected intermediate point where the power feed is to be engaged for'the remainder of the lateral movement.

The four serially arranged switches that are in the starting circuit for the main motor (above mentioned) form part of the double pole double throw push button switches in the control circuit of the reversible rapid traverse motor I20. With reference to the lower part of Fig. 12, the reversible motor starting switch is provided with two solenoids 2' and 3 (illustrated in dotted lines), the former for actuating the forward switch and the latter for actuating the reverse switch of the motor. Inasmuch as theltraverse motor is used to propel the cutter tangentially to the right or to the left at a rapid rate -or in or out at a rapid rate, two sets of ,controlstherefore are provided. For thetangentialtraverse control there is a push button switch RT connected in a control circuit forthe revlerse solenoid 3 and a second push button switch LT 'connected'in the circuit to the forward solenoid 2. In each of the solenoid control circuits there is also a limit switch TTR and TTL, respectively, both of which normally are closed. Assuming the'circuit is otherwise complete up to the push buttons RT or LT the pressing of one of those buttons will cause motor operation in the forward or reverse direction so long as the button is held depressed and the cutter slide will be propelled to the right or to the left accordingly. If the operator holds the button depressed too long the cutter slide will engage one of the dogs I52 and then shift the rod I5I and lever I which lever engages one of the switches TTR or TTL (mounted in the cutter head) depending upon the direction of travel, thus opening the motor control circuit and stopping the power traverse.

In a similar manner push button switches marked In and Out" and serially connected stanchion traverse limit switches STI and STO are in a parellel circuit and also control the forward and reverse solenoids of the reversible magnetic starter RMS. Again assuming all of the switches of the stanchion traversing control circuit up to the In and Out buttons are closed, the pressing of one of the buttons will cause the stanchion to be propelled in or out as the case may be. When the stanchion has reached a predetermined limit of travel in either direction one of the-normally closed switches STI or STO is engaged by the stanchion and opened and the circuit to the starting panel RMS is opened and the traverse stops.

All of the push button switches RT, LT, In, and Out are in series with a single switch PFL which is mechanically interlocked or controlled by the power feed lever I28 in such manner'that when the lever is rocked to a position engaging the power feed clutch 85 the switch PFL is opened and the rapid traverse motor I28 cannot be started by pressing any of the push buttons RT,.LT, etc. When, however, the power feed control lever I28 is rocked to a position disengaging the clutch 85, the switch PFL is closed and the power traverse motor may be operated. Although two sets of control button for the power traverse motor are provided, one set for the cutter traverse right and left, and the other set for the cutter traverse in or out, the two sets are never available for concurrent operation. To prevent confusion in this respect a selector switch ITL is connected in series with the switch PFL and arranged to connect one or the other 'of' the two sets of traverse motor control buttons with the main power line. The selector switch ITL is also interlocked with the infeeding'and tanfeeding control lever I36 in such manner that when the lever is rocked to a position engaging the dual clutch 86 with the tanfeeding sub-transmission (gear I86, etc.) the switch ITL is moved to a position completing a portion of the control circuit including the right and left push button switch RT and LT. At the same time the circuit to the In and Out switches is opened. When the lever I36 is rocked to its other position, that is, to engage the centifeed transmission (gear 96, 91, etc.) the switch is actuated to a position completing a portion of the circuit to the In and Out buttons, and opening the circuit involving the right and left control buttons. Accordingly, when the dual clutch 86 is set up for infeeding, the In and Out buttonstake the control for forward and reverse movements of the motor exclusively, and" when the clutch 86 is set-for tangential feeding,' the right and left control buttons take'control exclusively; but neither set-of buttons has any control over the motor if the power feed lever I28 is shifted to a'position wherein :mainfeed clutch 85 is engaged.

With reference to Fig. 4, it will'be observed that a motion direction restoring device, including sliding gear 99 is positioned between the dual clutch element 89 and the centifeed screw D. Therefore, irrespective of the directionthat the traverse motor I maylberoperated 'the motion in the screw shaft D may be reversed by sliding the gear 99. When the machine is set up for cutting a left or right hand gear; using ter irrespective of the direction of rotation the main feed works. Ordinarily, therefore, theIn and Out legends on the stanchion traverse control buttons are in themselves -meaningless unless the terms are related to direction of movement of the stanchion and which must be consistent in their operation regardless of the hand of the gear being cut. That is, irrespective of whether the work index is clockwise or counterclockwise it is desirable to have the cutter stanchion move in (toward the work) whenever the In button is pressed, and away from the work whenever the Out button is pressed Therefore, to avoid the confusion that might otherwise exist by reason of the reversibility of the index and main feed drives and the effect thereof on the elements of the transmissions, another set of switches are incorporated in the In and Out control circuits of the reversing motor I20. The reversing switches SR (Fig. 12) are, in effect, direction restoring or coordinating switches and are arranged to be actuated in unison by the sliding gear shifting rod 99 (Fig. 1). One of the restoring switches SR is in the IN circuit and selectively closes the circuit to the forward solenoid 2 or to the reverse solenoid 3. The other restoring switch SR is in the Out control circuit and selectively closes the circuit to the reverse solenoid 3 or the forward solenoid 2.

As shown in the diagram the restoring switches SR are connected so that the motor I20 runs forward in the one direction when the push button In is pressed, and reversely under another condition when the push button In is pressed. Forward and reverse rotations of the motor I20 are, however, necessary depending upon the position of sliding gear 99 which has been previously shifted. The gear shifting rod 99 is connected to operate the restoring switches SR in unison and in a direction compatible with the positioning of the sliding gear 99. Accordingly, irrespective of the position of gear 99 the control of the power traverse motor is interlocked and related therewith as always to give a traverse in when the In button is pressed, and always a traverse away from the work whenever the Out button is pressed.

It will be noted that no restoring-a-relation set of control switches is necessary in the control circuit for left and right cutter traverse, for the reason that all rapid traverse directional relations of the elements in the tanfeeding train are controlled by the fixed relations of the gearing that lies between the rapid traverse motor I20 and the ultimate feed screw 94.

To! insure against inadvertent simultaneous in the diagram. Each ofthe push buttons comprises a pair of normallyz'closed;contactsand a pain of normally open I contacts. The normally clo'sedipain of each button is I connected in series with the starting circuit :of the main-motor '25., as :represented by the dotted lines of the'diagram (Fig/12), and the open pair of contacts of each button .is part i of. the :control circuit for. the reversible motor I20. Therefore; all-"of the control buttons for the rapid traverse motor must be released before the starting-circuit of the main motor may be completed. -If the main motor 26 is running, a pressing ofany of the buttons for the traverse motor, at once stops the mainimotor. However, Jpressingof any one of the traverse motor buttons, underthis condition, doesnot necessarily .mean' .that the traverse motor will operate, for its operationis again dependent :upon

the positions of the power feed control lever I28 as well as the position of the tanfeed lever I36. Insofar as the main motor 20 is concerned, all of the control buttons for the motor I20 are stoip switches.

As an illustration of how the transmission mechanisms of this invention may be caused to function in a given machine, reference will be made to the gear cutting machine disclosed, and assuming it is desired to cut gears by the composite method, infeed followed by tangential feed, the machine will be initially set up for the number of teeth, hand, and lead, and feed and speed of the cutter according to the machines chart which shows the gears to be used and their location. The dual clutch lever I39 willbe set for infeeding and likewise the sliding gear 99. The work and cutter will be mounted on their spindles and the tapered portion of the hob centralized with relation to the work. The vertical slide 28 is clamped, and the cutter slide 30 and the stanchion 2, left unclarhped.

The machine is then started and the cutter fed by hand to cutting position. The infeed precision abutment I31 is preset to stop the infeed at the precise center distance and the tangential feed stops I52 also properly set to stop the machine when the cutter has completed the tangential tooling. The power feed is then engaged and the cutter is power fed radially into the work until the sensitive switch CF is actuated whereupon the infeed stops. Without more ado, the operator shifts the dual clutch lever I36 to its tanfeeding position. That single operational movement disconnects the centifeed and engages the tanfeed transmissions, and simultaneously the abutment. I3'I rides off the sensitive switch CF and the latter closes, thus restoring that portion of the main motor starting circuit, and the drive is restarted by pressing the start button ST.

The power feed is noW tangentially of the work, and always in a direction opposed to the work rotation irrespective of the direction of work rotation, this relation being automatically obtained by the present system of gearing when the machine is initially set up for the work in hand. Hence nothing need be done when shifting from centifeed to tan feed when cutting either right or left hand gears except throw the control lever I36 and start the machine. The tangential feed continues operating until the slide reaches the present dog I52 and actuates one of the limit switches TFL or TFR. Immediately the machine stops and the finished gear is removed.

The transmission has, of course, other machine tool applications and is capable of different operating cycles, the foregoing being representative of a preferred use of the invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning an range of equivalency of the following claims:

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalent thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A power transmission combining a source of power and an element to be propelled thereby, a

train of power transmitting connections therebetween including therein a, diflerential mechanismhaving a rotatable but normally stationary differential housing, a second train of power transmitting connections deriving power from the outgoing side of said differential and connected to propel another element, means for rendering said second train of mechanisms selectively effective or ineffective, and a third train of power transmitting connections leading from said second train back to the housing of said differential mechanism for rotating the latter, and change speed means in said third train for determining the relative speed of rotation imparted to said differential housing thereby to correlate ,the speeds of said two drive trains whenever said econd train of power transmitting connections is rendered eifective.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which motion reversing means is embodied in said third train for oppositely correlating the rates of speed of said two drive trains.

WILLIAM F. ZIMMERMANN. 

